Southern California is home to millions of people for millions of reasons, including miles of beautiful beaches, acres and acres of spacious parks, exciting nightlife, ethnic diversity, rich culture and top-ranked schools. So what are the best places to live in Southern California? Let’s see what some prominent news publications had to say.

When Businessweek named “America’s 50 Best Cities for 2011,” two Southern California cities made the list: San Diego and Irvine.

San Diego (45): “It’s difficult to find a city that has weather more classically perfect. Essentially, it’s always sunny – shorts and flip-flop weather. So grab your surfboard and head to the beach, one of the hundreds of bars or thousands of restaurants. Or put on a pair of loafers and head to one of the nearly 200 museums in the area. ‘America’s finest city’ is just waiting to please you.” Businessweek

Irvine (47): “In a broad valley between the San Joaquin Hills and Loma Ridge, Irvine is a wealthy Los Angeles suburb that sets the standard on many levels. The median income is $92,195, and 64.1 percent of the population is educated at the college level. Further, the area has the best schools among the cities on our list. In short, it’s a splendid place to settle down.” Businessweek

In CNN Money’s “Best Places to Live for 2012,” four Southern California cities made the list: Irvine, Chino Hills, Diamond Bar and Yorba Linda.

Irvine (6): “Irvine has all the surf, sand, and sun Southern California is known for, with 44 miles of bike trails, 20,000 acres of parks and preserves, and a beach 10 miles away. Thanks to smart planning, this big city can feel surprisingly small. The 40-year-old community is divided into 40 villages, and a minimum of five acres of park space is added for every 1,000 newcomers. Home prices are high, but new development is creating more affordable options – along with new schools, bike paths, and green spaces.” CNN Money

Chino Hills (34): “This ethnically diverse Southern California community an hour outside Los Angeles claims a higher median income than that of Beverly Hills. Excellent schools and safe neighborhoods are par for the course, and the city maintains its hallmark rural feel by clustering development – there are still 3,000 acres of publicly owned open space. Many residents do face a long commute to work, though. 40% drive at least 45 minutes each way (and the infamous Los Angeles traffic doesn’t help).” CNN Money

Diamond Bar (41): “The residents of Diamond Bar take pride in their homes. Witness the annual Holiday Home Decorating Contest, in which neighbors vie to be deemed the one with the best holiday spirit, best lawn display, or most energy-efficient decorations. Not that community spirit is lacking. Locals boast of their first-ever dog park (Bark Park) and relocated library. What’s not so hot? High taxes, and long commutes to Los Angeles.”

Yorba Linda (42): “Home is where the horses are, at least in this affluent community 45 minutes from Los Angeles that boasts 100 miles of horse trails and three state-of-the-art equestrian arenas. In Yorba Linda, 2012 has been a celebration-filled year, with the graduation of the first class of students from its new high school and events related to Richard Nixon’s birth here 100 years ago. The living may be easy, but it isn’t cheap: Homes cost upwards of half-a-million dollars.” CNN Money

And finally, one more accolade for Irvine, named one of the “10 Best U.S Cities for Raising a Family” in 2012 by 24/7 Wall Street.

Irvine (4): “Irvine is a perfect city for parents who want their children to enjoy the outdoors. The planned community was developed with a focus on greenbelts, and features many bike paths and parks, including the recently established Orange County Great Park, which is still under construction. Irvine has one of the lowest rates of violent crime among all major cities. Its unemployment for 2011 was relatively low at 6.7%. Like much of Orange County, Irvine suffered far less than other areas from the housing crisis.” 24/7 Wall Street